A prison officer accused of being in an inappropriate relationship with Zara Aleena’s killer Jordan McSweeney has been pictured for the first time.
Hayley Jones, 33, is accused of acting in a way “which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust” during a relationship with Jordan McSweeney, 31, who is serving at least 33 years in HMP Belmarsh for the murder of Zara.
She appeared alongside McSweeney at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (August 28).
McSweeney, who killed 35-year-old law graduate Zara as she walked home from a night out in Ilford in the early hours of June 26, 2022, nine days after he was released from prison, appeared via video-link.
Jones, of Strood in Kent, who appeared in person, is accused of misconduct in a public office between March 6 2023 and April 7 2023 – an offence which could lead to life imprisonment.
McSweeney, from Dagenham, has been charged with encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable offence.
During a short hearing on Wednesday, the case was adjourned until September 25 at Woolwich Crown Court.
Jones was granted conditional bail and must not contact McSweeney or visit the prison where he is being held.
McSweeney was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey in December 2022 after admitting sexually assaulting and murdering Zara.
In November 2023, he won a Court of Appeal bid to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence to 33 years.
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